Methadone baby death parents jailed

The drug-addicted parents of a child who died after drinking their methadone have been jailed after admitting culpability.

Dylan Thomas Hughes, who was two years and two months old, collapsed at his south Wales home on May 28 last year and died later in hospital.

His mother and father, Paul Hughes and Krystal Jones, admitted causing or allowing the death of a child at Newport Crown Court.

They were each prescribed seven bottles of methadone a week in a bid to wean them off their heroin habits.

Following Dylan's death, police found 76 bottles of methadone in the toddler's home. Of these, 42 were determined to be within reach of a child.

Prosecutor Robin Spencer QC said of the 76 bottles, 25 were empty but retained as the methadone dregs "would often be pooled into another vessel".

The pair, of Ogwy Street, Nantymoel, near Bridgend, had admitted causing or allowing the death of a child during a hearing last month after denying manslaughter.

They were each sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment by the Recorder of Cardiff, Judge Nicholas Cooke QC.

Hughes was also given a consecutive sentence of four months' imprisonment for one count of supplying methadone, one count of possessing cannabis and one count of possessing diazepam while on bail for manslaughter.